Yes, we do all the worksheets (except maybe at the beginning of the book when the concepts were very easy). He does not explain it back. I watch him do the problems, though. What did your kids dislike about TT?

Thanks. Any other insight from anyone else?

Hello, I have a non-mathy 8th grader who is about 1/4 of the way through MUS Pre-Algebra. Hopefully he will finish over the summer so we can start Algebra. MUS is working okay (better than Saxon was for him). We understand the explaination and I like the lesson, practice, review format. We are not making use of the blocks because using them doesn't seem to make any difference at all, although they are there when he feels like following along with the DVD. However, my son is still missing too many problems (as many as half). When he redoes the missed ones, he gets the answer correct on about half and then gets the rest when I sit down with him to work them. If he would work each problem twice the first time through, he would catch some of his mistakes. Half of the mistakes are due to the concept not being solidified. I'm thinking of switching to Teaching Textbooks because of the dvd lessons and answers. I like the idea of him being able to pop in the answer dvd to see each problem worked out. This would eliminate the times when math doesn't get done because I haven't been available to go over it with him. (Hopefully). But, this thought occured to me: Would watching the answer dvd just encourage passive learning? Would he check the workbook page, pop in the dvd to watch the answer, and then move on? I suppose I could require re-working first, then checking with the dvd. I guess my real question is this: Will TT help him be more successful in math than MUS? Will it enable him to be a more independant learner and not dependant on my schedule and availability? What about the neccessity for a computer? Would that keep him from moving forward on the days we have to take school work with us? I'd like to hear from those of you who have used both programs. What were the advantages and disadvantages? Wendy

Thanks for the response. So, if we did not join a co-op, should we buy a microscope? Also, the community college has a lab course once a week. The student works on their own book at home and just does labs at the college. Has anyone done anything like this? I think I'm the most concerned that there will be times we can't keep up with a class. I'm also concerned that without a class, he won't keep up (or stop to do the labs). There's so much to learn and do and so little time! I beginning to dread highschool!!! Sometimes I think he would learn more in traditional school....

Hello, I'm planning for next year and am stuck on the biology course. First off, I am considering Apologia biology because 1) my son likes it and 2) If we do a co-op class, this is the course they all use. or I could use Prentice Hall (Miller/Levine) and use the virtual labs, possibly signing up through Kolbe Academy for the lesson plans and answer keys. Any thoughts on these two? If we chose the Apologia, would he be best served joining other homeschoolers in a co-op class twice a week? Is it worth the time away from home (we're co-oping with another family for history, plus we go to dance, voice, and acting classes each week....so staying home is always good if we can do it)